Smith's Dock Co, often referred to simply as Smiths Dock, was a British shipbuilding company of High Docks, North Shields, and later of South Bank in Middlesbrough on the River Tees.

The company developed at North Shields from its predecessor T. and W. Smith who established a major drydock complex there in the late 19th. century. They also built ships under their own name between 1848 and 1890 after which they concentrated on repairs [1].

1907/8 The Smith's Dock Co shipyard and associated drydocks and repair facilities were developed on a completely new site fronting the River Tees at South Bank, a little way downstream from Middlesbrough, with steelworks to east and west [4].

1909/10 The last two vessels launched at North Shields were fitted out at the new South Bank yard in 1909-1910; the sequence of yard numbers began with 417 in continuity from the Tyneside yard [5].

1910 The Yard made its first dredger Priestman followed by twenty small trawlers and drifters, one whaler, two tugs, two barges and three coasters. [6]

1911 55 small trawlers, drifters and whalers were completed. The yard opened its first engine works and fitted its first engine.

1912 The yard began making whale-catchers along with minesweepers and coasters.

1965 The yard modified a number of oil exploration rigs, one of which Ocean Prince broke form its moorings due to high wind and blew down river for two miles colliding with tankers and bringing down power lines.

1966 The yard was sold to Swan Hunter with the yard becoming part of the Swan Hunter Group later in the same year.

1970s The yard started building partly refrigerated ships, and made a total of 15 such vessels in the 1970s. In the late 70s the yard was a member of British Shipbuilders, and the yard had a number of difficulties with ensuring its ships met contracted service speeds. It received penalty notices on late deliveries, some of which were refused by customers because of poor speed and malfunctioning equipment on board.